Maurice Kneeland
December 3, 1920 — April 6, 2012
Maurice Kneeland
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MAURICE BERNARD KNEELAND, Lt. Col. Air Force (Ret'd), 91, of North Little Rock, passed away Friday, April 6, 2012 at University Hospital, UAMS, after a brief illness. He was born December 3, 1920 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Guy F. Kneeland and Althea Reynolds Kneeland. He is survived by his wife, Norma Nadine Paul Kneeland, sons Glenn (Lily) Kneeland, Ron (Becky) Oberlag, Reginald (Alice) Oberlag, and Randy (Jamie) Oberlag as well as ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Myrle Fisk Kneeland, son James D.
(Jeanine) Kneeland, and brothers Dr. M. F. Kneeland and Bernard Bevins.
He graduated in 1939 from People's Academy in Morrisville, Vermont and began a
career as an auto mechanic. He was a B-24 pilot in World War II, and flew in the
Korean War. In the Vietnam War he flew combat as a KC135 pilot. In 1970 he retired
from the Air Force at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana. Later he became an air
flight instructor and after moving to Arkansas, worked in and retired from the aviation
insurance industry. Maurice flew with the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing out of then
Adams Field doing pilot rescue and DEA surveillance until he was 87. Beginning in
2004, he also volunteered for the North Little Rock Airport Commission, North Little
Rock Traffic Court and was a stalwart volunteer at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior
Center in North Little Rock. Maurice logged in 2,613 volunteer hours until his
hospitalization a week prior to entering the hospital.
Maurice loved his roots in Vermont and owned and managed a Christmas tree farm in
Wolcott, Vermont for over 40 years. He was the family historian and spent many weeks
each year traveling to spend time with his relatives in Vermont. In addition to his
family, he had a passion for flying, Civil War history, automobiles, and his canine
friends. He was a gentle man and a gentleman. "Integrity with Honesty and Respect"
was his motto and he lived it.
A cremation was performed by North Little Rock Funeral Home and a celebration of his
life will be held there on Friday, April 13 at 1:00 pm with a service following at 2:00 pm.
Donations or memorials may be made in his honor to the Patrick Henry Hayes Senior
Citizens Center in North Little Rock or to the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing.
Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.
1921 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR, 72114
1921 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR, 72114
MAURICE BERNARD KNEELAND, Lt. Col. Air Force (Ret'd), 91, of North Little Rock, passed away Friday, April 6, 2012 at University Hospital, UAMS, after a brief illness. He was born December 3, 1920 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont to Guy F. Kneeland and Althea Reynolds Kneeland. He is survived by his wife, Norma Nadine Paul Kneeland, sons Glenn (Lily) Kneeland, Ron (Becky) Oberlag, Reginald (Alice) Oberlag, and Randy (Jamie) Oberlag as well as ten grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his parents, his first wife Myrle Fisk Kneeland, son James D.
(Jeanine) Kneeland, and brothers Dr. M. F. Kneeland and Bernard Bevins.
He graduated in 1939 from People's Academy in Morrisville, Vermont and began a
career as an auto mechanic. He was a B-24 pilot in World War II, and flew in the
Korean War. In the Vietnam War he flew combat as a KC135 pilot. In 1970 he retired
from the Air Force at Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, Louisiana. Later he became an air
flight instructor and after moving to Arkansas, worked in and retired from the aviation
insurance industry. Maurice flew with the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing out of then
Adams Field doing pilot rescue and DEA surveillance until he was 87. Beginning in
2004, he also volunteered for the North Little Rock Airport Commission, North Little
Rock Traffic Court and was a stalwart volunteer at the Patrick Henry Hays Senior
Center in North Little Rock. Maurice logged in 2,613 volunteer hours until his
hospitalization a week prior to entering the hospital.
Maurice loved his roots in Vermont and owned and managed a Christmas tree farm in
Wolcott, Vermont for over 40 years. He was the family historian and spent many weeks
each year traveling to spend time with his relatives in Vermont. In addition to his
family, he had a passion for flying, Civil War history, automobiles, and his canine
friends. He was a gentle man and a gentleman. "Integrity with Honesty and Respect"
was his motto and he lived it.
A cremation was performed by North Little Rock Funeral Home and a celebration of his
life will be held there on Friday, April 13 at 1:00 pm with a service following at 2:00 pm.
Donations or memorials may be made in his honor to the Patrick Henry Hayes Senior
Citizens Center in North Little Rock or to the Civil Air Patrol - Arkansas Wing.
Online obituary and guest registry at www.nlrfh.com.
Visitation
APR 13. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)
North Little Rock Funeral Home1921 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR, 72114
Memorial Service
APR 13. 2:00 PM (CDT)
North Little Rock Funeral Home1921 Main Street
North Little Rock, AR, 72114
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Maurice Kneeland, please visit our flower store.
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